Syrian Rebels Set Ablaze Tomb Of Ousted President, al-Assad's Father (Photos)

Syrian rebels have set ablaze the tomb of Hafez al-Assad, the father of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in his former hometown of Qardaha.

The footage taken by AFP on Wednesday showed, rebel fighters in fatigues and young men watching it burn.

According to the report, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor told AFP the rebels had set fire to the mausoleum, located in the Latakia heartland of Assad's Alawite community.

The footage showed parts of the mausoleum ablaze and damaged, with the tomb of Hafez torched and destroyed.

The vast elevated structure atop a hill has an intricate architectural design with several arches, its exterior embellished with ornamentation etched in stone.

It also houses the tombs of other Assad family members, including Bashar's brother Bassel, who was being groomed to inherit power before he was killed in a road accident in 1994.

On Sunday, a lightning offensive by Islamist-led rebels seized key cities before reaching Damascus and forcing Assad to flee, ending more than 50 years of his family's rule.